The Vols were scheduled to play in Nashville last Tuesday night, but COVID issues within the Vanderbilt program forced the game to be postponed.
In their first game following the postponement, the Vols (10-1, 4-1 SEC) defeated Vanderbilt in Knoxville 81-61 on Saturday behind a team-high 16 points from Keon Johnson. The five-star freshman was 4-of-8 shooting from the field was 7-of-8 at the free throw line.
The win was the Volunteers’ seventh consecutive victory over the Commodores, and their fourth in a row inside Thompson-Boling Arena. Rick Barnes tied legendary former coaches Phog Allen and Don Haskins for 20th place on the all-time Division I wins list with 719. Barnes ranks seventh in career wins among active head coaches and now has 115 victories at Tennessee.
UT now turn its attention to Florida (6-4, 3-3 SEC). The Vols will travel to Gainesville on Tuesday night for a 7 p.m. tip with a Gators basketball team that has lost three out of their last four games.
Tennessee will then return home on Saturday for an 8:30 p.m. ET tip on the SEC Network with No. 19 Missouri (8-2, 2-2 SEC).
Here’s a look at where Tennessee basketball is ranked amongst college basketball polls and media members heading into this week’s games against Florida and Missouri.
AP Poll: No. 6 (+4)
Coaches Poll: No. 6 (+4)
NET Rankings: No. 4 (-1)
KenPom: No. 6 (+3)
CBS’ Jon Rothstein’s 45: No. 7 (+1)
Rothstein’s “skinny” on UT: “Had 18 assists on 25 made field goals against Vanderbilt.”
Gary Parrish’s Top 25 and one: No. 7 (+2)
Parrish on the Vols: “Tennessee’s resume features wins over Colorado and Missouri. The Vols will take a three-game winning streak into Tuesday’s game at Florida.”
Matt Norlander’s Hey Nineteen Power Rankings: No. 3 (+3)
Norlander on the Vols: “I didn’t know what to do with the No. 3 hole this week; I had five teams under for consideration. The Vols win out, though I think they’ve got a close one awaiting them Tuesday night at Florida. Tennessee’s defensive rating at KenPom is 87.1, No. 2 nationally. Rick Barnes’ team is blocking 17.6% of opponents’ shots, the most frequent rate in college basketball. ”
The Athletic’s Seth Davis: No. 9 (-)
Stadium’s Jeff Goodman: No. 7 (+2)
ESPN’s Jeff Borzello’s Power Rankings: No. 7 (-)
Borzello on the Vols: “After a couple of subpar defensive performances against Alabama and Arkansas, Tennessee’s elite early-season defense returned against Texas A&M and Vanderbilt. The caliber of opponent undoubtedly has something to do with it, but the Volunteers were more aggressive in forcing turnovers in those two games and also held their opponents to a combined 13-for-46 from 3-point range. It also looks like Jaden Springer’s spot in the starting lineup could be here to stay. Springer has started the past two games, scored 10 points in each game, and also had seven rebounds, five assists and three steals in the win over Vandy.”
Andy Katz’s Power 36: No. 9 (+4)
Katz on the Vols: “The Vols only mark was a home loss to Alabama.”
